Very high volume user filled drug delivery device

ABSTRACT

A wearable drug delivery device that can deliver high volumes of liquid drugs stored in one or more corresponding containers to a patient is provided. The wearable drug delivery device can include first and second containers to store first and second liquid drugs, respectively. A first set of energy transfer spheres can be coupled to a first spring and a first plunger positioned within the first container. A second set of energy transfer spheres can be coupled to a second spring and a second plunger positioned within the second container. The first spring can expand to advance the first set of energy transfer spheres and the first plunger to expel the first liquid drug for delivery to the patient. The second spring can expand to advance the second set of energy transfer spheres and the second plunger to expel the second liquid drug for delivery to the patient.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/468,152, filed Mar. 7, 2017, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments generally relate to medication delivery. More particularly,embodiments relate to wearable drug delivery devices.

BACKGROUND

Many conventional drug delivery devices that are wearable are limited toonly delivering small volumes of a liquid drug to a patient. Otherconventional drug delivery devices that can store and deliver largervolumes of a liquid drug to a patient are not designed to be wearableand so are bulky, cumbersome, and uncomfortable when attempted to beworn by a patient. Further, many of these conventional drug deliverydevices are not fillable by the patient, thereby limiting theirusefulness and longevity.

A need therefore exists for a more compact and lightweight wearable drugdelivery device for providing relatively high volumes of a liquid drugto a patient that can be filled by the patient and worn in a comfortablemanner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary drug delivery device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the drug delivery device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the drug delivery device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a first exemplary arrangement of various internalcomponents of the drug delivery device of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the internal components depicted inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of the internal components depicted inFIG. 4.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the internal components depicted inFIG. 4.

FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a first alternative arrangement ofinternal components of the drug delivery device of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of a second alternative arrangement ofinternal components of the drug delivery device of FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure presents various systems, components, and methods fordelivering a liquid drug or medicine to a patient or user. Each of thesystems, components, and methods disclosed herein provides one or moreadvantages over conventional systems, components, and methods.

Various embodiments include a wearable drug delivery device that candeliver high volumes of one or more liquid drugs stored in one or morecorresponding containers to a patient or user. The wearable drugdelivery device can include a first container to store a first liquiddrug and a second container to store a second liquid drug. A first setof energy transfer spheres can be coupled to a first spring and a firstplunger positioned within the first container. A second set of energytransfer spheres can be coupled to a second spring and a second plungerpositioned within the second container. The first spring can expand toadvance the first set of energy transfer spheres toward the firstplunger to advance the first plunger further into the first cartridge,thereby expelling a portion of the first liquid drug from the firstcontainer for delivery to the patient. The second spring can expand toadvance the second set of energy transfer spheres toward the secondplunger to advance the second plunger further into the second cartridge,thereby expelling a portion of the second liquid drug from the secondcontainer for delivery to the patient. The first and second liquid drugscan be the same drug or can be different drugs. The first and seconddrugs can be delivered in succession or can be mixed for delivery to thepatient. The wearable drug delivery device can be filled or refilled bythe patient. Other embodiments are disclosed and described.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a drug delivery device100. The drug delivery device 100 can include a top portion or cover 102and a lower portion or base 104. The top portion 102 and the lowerportion 104 can together form a housing of the drug delivery device 100.The top portion 102 and the lower portion 104 can be coupled together toform an outside portion of the drug delivery device 100. The top portion102 and the lower portion 104 can be formed from any material including,for example, plastic, metal, rubber, or any combination thereof.

The drug delivery device 100 can be used to deliver one or moretherapeutic agents (e.g., one or more drugs) to a patient or user. Invarious embodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can include two ormore containers for retaining or storing liquid drugs. The liquid drugscan be the same liquid drug or can be different liquid drugs. The drugdelivery device 100 can be used to deliver the liquid drugs from thecontainers to the patient. Any type of liquid drug can be stored by thedrug delivery device 100 and delivered to the patient. In variousembodiments, the containers can contain any therapeutic agent such as,for example, a drug, a subcutaneous injectable, a medicine, or abiologic, or any combination thereof. The liquid drugs stored by thedrug delivery device 100 can be delivered in succession or can becombined for delivery to the patient. A patient receiving a drug orother medicine (or any liquid) from the drug delivery device 100 canalso be referred to as a user.

The drug delivery device 100 can provide any amount of the stored liquiddrugs to a patient over any period of time. In various embodiments, thedrug delivery device 100 can provide the stored liquid drugs to thepatient in a single dose over a desired amount of time. In variousembodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can provide the stored liquiddrugs to the patient over multiple doses. Each of the multiple doses caninclude substantially the same amount of the liquid drug or drugs or thesizes of the doses can vary. Further, each of the multiple doses can beprovided to the patient over substantially the same amount of time orthe delivery times can vary. Additionally, the amount of time betweenmultiple doses can be approximately equal or can vary.

The drug delivery device 100 can maintain the liquid drugs within two ormore primary drug containers. For purposes of explanation andillustration herein, the drug delivery device 100 is described as havingtwo primary drug containers but is not so limited. The primary drugcontainers can each be a cartridge. As an example, each cartridge can bean International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standardizedcartridge. The drug delivery device 100 can be provided to the patientwith preloaded and prefilled cartridges. In various embodiments, thedrug delivery device 100 can include a slot or opening for a patient toload prefilled cartridges into the drug delivery device 100. In variousembodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can be designed and/orintended for a single use such that after the liquid drugs are deliveredto the patient, the drug delivery device 100 can be discarded.

In various embodiments, the primary drug containers can be filled orrefilled by a patient such that the drug delivery device 100 can bereused. In various embodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can includea port for accessing and filling the primary drug containers. As anexample, the drug delivery device 100 can include a fill port 106. Thefill port 106 can provide access to each of the drug containerscontained within the drug delivery device 100 such that a user can filleach drug container through the fill port 106. Since the fill port 106provides access to each drug container within the drug delivery device100, the fill port 106 can be considered a unionized fill port.

As shown in FIG. 1, the top portion 102 can include a patientinteraction element or component 108. In various embodiments, thepatient interaction element 108 can be a push button or other patientinput device. The patient interaction element 108 can be used toactivate the drug delivery device 100. For example, when a patientpresses on the patient interaction element 108, the drug delivery device100 can begin delivering the stored liquid drugs to the patient. Priorto activation, the drug delivery device 100 can remain in an idle stateof operation. In various embodiments, the patient interaction element108 can be used to start, stop, and/or restart delivery of the liquiddrugs to the patient to enable a patient to dispense multiple doses ofone or more liquid drugs.

The drug delivery device 100 can be a wearable drug delivery device 100.As a wearable device, the drug delivery device 100 can be an on-bodydelivery system (OBDS) or a portion thereof. The drug delivery device100 can be coupled to a patient in many ways. For example, the lowerportion 104 of the drug delivery device 100 can include an adhesive forattaching to a patient. In various embodiments, the drug delivery device100 can be attached to a secondary device attached or worn by thepatient such that the drug delivery device 100 fits onto or can becoupled to the secondary device.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary form factor of the drug delivery device100. In various embodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can bedesigned according to any desired form factor—for example, according toany desired shape and size of the top and lower portions 102 and 104.Further, the drug delivery device 100 can include any number ofcomponents that can be coupled together to form the housing of the drugdelivery device 100.

In various embodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can be a relativelyhigh capacity drug delivery device capable of relativity fast deliveryof liquids with relativity high viscosities. In various embodiments, thedrug delivery device 100 can include two 5 mL drug cartridges (e.g., two5 mL ISO drug containers) such that the drug delivery device 100 canstore and deliver at least 10 mL of one or more liquid drugs to a user.Accordingly, the drug delivery device 100 can be considered to be a veryhigh volume (VHV) (e.g., 10 mL or more) drug delivery device.

The drug delivery device 100 can include a first opening or window 110and a second opening or window 112. The windows 110 and 112 can expose aportion of each drug container (e.g., each cartridge) positioned withinthe drug delivery device 100. In various embodiments, the window 110 canbe positioned adjacent to a first 5 mL drug cartridge and the window 112can be positioned adjacent to a second 5 mL drug cartridge. The windows110 and 112 can allow visual inspection and monitoring of the respectivedrug containers to, for example, monitor delivery progress or status.

In various embodiments, a patient of the drug delivery device 100 canmonitor an amount of liquid drug remaining in each drug container. Inthis way, a patient can monitor dosing status. The windows 110 and 112can also enable a patient to inspect the liquid drugs for particles ordiscoloration. The windows 110 and 112 can each be covered with a clearmaterial such as plastic to allow a user to view the contents of eachrespective drug container. The windows 110 and 112 can be of any size orshape and can be positioned along any portion of the drug deliverydevice 100.

Many conventional drug delivery devices that can store and deliverrelatively large volumes of liquid drugs to a user are generally shapedto be long and thin. Such conventional drug delivery devices aregenerally not comfortable when worn by the patient. Further, manyconventional drug delivery devices that can dispense 10 mL or more of astored liquid drug are not intended to be worn by the patient. Incontrast, the drug delivery device 100 can store and deliver 10 mL ormore of one or more liquid drugs to the user while being comfortablyworn by the patient. Further, in contrast to many conventional drugdelivery devices, the drug delivery device 100 can be filled or refilledby a user.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the drug delivery device 100. As shownin FIG. 2, an exemplary arrangement of the fill port 106, the patientinteraction element 108, and the viewing windows 110 and 112 are shown.In various embodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can have a width202 of approximately 35 mm. In various embodiments, the drug deliverydevice 100 can have a length 204 of approximately 91 mm. The arrangementof the fill port 106, the patient interaction element 108, and theviewing windows 110 and 112 allows a patient to conveniently monitor thedelivery progress of the stored liquid drugs while also being able tocontrol or activate the drug delivery device 100 when the drug deliverydevice 100 is worn by the user.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the drug delivery device 100. As shownin FIG. 3, an exemplary arrangement of the viewing window 112 is shownin relation to the top portion 102 and the lower portion 104 of the drugdelivery device 100. In various embodiments, the drug delivery device100 can have a height 302 of approximately 31 mm.

In various embodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can include a userinterface. The user interface can include, for example, a touchscreen, aliquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) display, or anyother type of display for presenting information to the patient and/orreceiving one or more inputs from the patient. In general, the userinterface can include one or more interfaces for displaying or providinginformation to the patient and/or receiving information from thepatient. In various embodiments, the user interface can provide anelectronic display indicating the fill and/or dosing status (or anyother operational status) of the drug delivery device 100.

In various embodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can include one ormore drive mechanisms. In various embodiments, a drive mechanism can beprovided for each container that stores, for example, a liquid drug. Thedrive mechanisms can be of the same type of drive mechanism or can bedifferent drive mechanisms. Each drive mechanism can be used to expel aliquid drug from a corresponding container for delivery to the patient.For example, each drive mechanism can be used to expel a desired amountof a liquid drug that is to be provided to the patient over a certainamount of time. In various embodiments, each drive mechanism can operateto control a plunger that can expel a portion of a liquid drug from arespective container based on the movement of the plunger. In variousembodiments, the plunger can be positioned within a drug storagecontainer and can be moved within the container by a corresponding drivemechanism. A variety of drive mechanisms can be used and implemented bythe drug delivery device 100 including any of the mechanisms, features,and/or components for storing and delivering a liquid drug from acontainer to a user as described in U.S. application Ser. No.15/607,169, filed May 26, 2017, U.S. application Ser. No. 15/607,182,filed May 26, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/562,802, filedSep. 25, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/562,807, filedSep. 25, 2017, each of which is incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

FIG. 4 illustrates a first exemplary arrangement of various internalcomponents 400 of the drug delivery device 100. The various internalcomponents 400 depicted in FIG. 4 can be used for storing, for example,one or more liquid drugs, expelling the one or more liquid drugs fromrespective containers, and for delivering the expelled liquid drugs to auser. The drug delivery device 100 can include additional componentsother than those depicted in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the internal components 400 can include a firstcontainer 402 and a second container 404. As described herein, the firstand second containers 402 and 404 can be ISO cartridges. In variousembodiments, the first and second containers 402 and 404 can each be 5mL cartridges and can be of the same size and shape. The first container402 can hold or store a first liquid drug 406. The second container 404can hold or store a second liquid drug 408. The first and second liquiddrugs 406 and 408 can be the same liquid drug or can be different liquiddrugs.

A first plunger 410 can be positioned within the first container 402.The first plunger 410 can be advanced in a direction 412 to expel thefirst liquid drug 406 from the first container 402. The first liquiddrug 406 can be expelled from a first end 414 of the first container 402based on advancement of the first plunger 410 toward the first end 414.Similarly, a second plunger 416 can be positioned within the secondcontainer 404. The second plunger 416 can be advanced in a direction 418to expel the second liquid drug 408 from the second container 404. Thesecond liquid drug 408 can be expelled from a first end 420 of thesecond container 404 based on advancement of the second plunger 416toward the first end 420.

The first end 414 of the first container 402 can be coupled to a firstfluid path or tubing component 422. The first tubing component 422 canbe coupled to a needle component 424. The needle component 424 can becoupled to the user when it is desired to deliver a stored liquid drugto the user. When the first plunger 410 is advanced in the direction412, then a portion of the first liquid drug 406 can be expelled fromthe first container 402 for delivery to the user by way of the firsttubing component 422 and the needle component 424. The first end 420 ofthe second container 404 can be coupled to a second fluid path or tubingcomponent 426. The second tubing component 426 can also be coupled tothe needle component 424. When the second plunger 416 is advanced in thedirection 418, then a portion of the second liquid drug 408 can beexpelled from the second container 404 for delivery to the user by wayof the second tubing component 426 and the needle component 424. Theneedle component 424 can be supported by and/or coupled to a structuralcomponent 440.

The first plunger 410 can be moved by operation of a first spring 428and first energy transfer spheres 430 (or a first set of energy transferspheres). The first spring 428 can be a compression spring and can becoupled to the first energy transfer spheres 430. The first energytransfer spheres 430 can be coupled to the first plunger 410. The firstenergy transfer spheres 430 can include any number of spheres. The firstspring 428 can be positioned below the second container 404. A track orother guide not shown in FIG. 4 can be used to guide the energy transferspheres 430 to provide coupling between the first spring 428 and thefirst plunger 410. When the first spring 428 is released and expands,the first spring 428 can provide a force to advance the energy transferspheres 430 toward the first plunger 410. The force provided by thefirst spring 428 can be transferred to the first plunger 410 by way ofthe energy transfer spheres 430, thereby causing the first plunger 410to advance in the direction 412. The energy transfer spheres 430 can besized to enter an open end of the first container 402 to advance thefirst plunger 410 further into the first container 402 (e.g., toward thefirst end 414).

In a similar manner, the second plunger 416 can be moved by operation ofa second spring 432 and second energy transfer spheres 434 (or a secondset of energy transfer spheres). The second spring 432 can be acompression spring and can be coupled to the second energy transferspheres 434. The second energy transfer spheres 434 can be coupled tothe second plunger 416. The second energy transfer spheres 434 caninclude any number of spheres. The second spring 432 can be positionedbelow the first container 402. A track or other guide not shown in FIG.4 can be used to guide the second energy transfer spheres 434 to providecoupling between the second spring 432 and the second plunger 416. Whenthe second spring 432 is released, the second spring 432 can provide aforce to advance the second energy transfer spheres 434 toward thesecond plunger 416. The force provided by the second spring 432 can betransferred to the second plunger 416 by way of the second energytransfer spheres 434, thereby causing the second plunger 432 to advancein the direction 418. As shown in FIG. 4, the directions 412 and 418 canbe approximately opposite. The energy transfer spheres 434 can be sizedto enter an open end of the second container 404 to advance the secondplunger 416 further into the second container 404 (e.g., toward thefirst end 420).

A fill port component 436 can be used to access the first and secondcontainers 402 and 404. In various embodiments, the fill port component436 can include an opening that can be aligned with the fill port 106 asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fill port component 436 can be coupled tothe first tubing component 422 and the second tubing component 426. Thefill port component 436 can enable the user to fill the first container402 with the first liquid drug 406 through the first tubing component422 and to fill the second container 404 with the second liquid drug 408through the second tubing component 426. The fill port component 436 caninclude one or more valves for directing fluid provided by the user toeither the first container 402 or the second container 404 such that thefirst container 402 can be filled with the first liquid drug 406 and thesecond container 404 can be filled with the second liquid drug 408.

The fill port component 436 can also be coupled to the needle component424. A tubing component 438 can provide connectivity between the fillport component 436 and the needle component 424. When expelling theliquid drugs 406 and 408, the tubing components 422 and 426 can provideconnectivity to the fill port component 436 which can then provide theexpelled liquid drugs 406 and 408 to the needle component 424 throughthe tubing component 438. As described herein, one or more valves of thefill port component 436 can direct the flow of the first and secondliquid drugs 406 and 408 into the first and second containers 402 and404, respectively, or from the first and second containers 402 and 404to the needle component 424.

The first spring 428 and the energy transfer spheres 430 can form aportion of a first drive mechanism of the drug delivery device 100. Thisfirst drive mechanism, as described herein, can be used to deliver thestored first liquid drug 406 to the user. The second spring 432 and theenergy transfer spheres 434 can form a portion of a second drivemechanism of the drug delivery device 100. This second drive mechanism,as described herein, can be used to deliver the stored second liquiddrug 408 to the user.

The arrangement of the internal components of the drug delivery device100 shown in FIG. 4 allows the drug delivery device 100 to remainrelatively small, compact, and lightweight. As a result, the drugdelivery device 100 can have a size and shape (e.g., as shown in FIGS.1-3) that can be comfortable for a user to wear.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top (or overhead) view of the internal components400 of the drug delivery device 100 shown in FIG. 4. The tubingcomponents 422, 426, and 438 can each be flexible tubing comprising anysuitable material including plastic or stainless steel. The tubingcomponent 422 and tubing component 426 can have the same inner diameters(e.g., to maintain the same flow rate capabilities from the first andsecond containers 402 and 404, respectively) or can have different innerdiameters.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first container 402 is oriented in anapproximately opposite direction from an orientation of the secondcontainer 404. Specifically, the first end 420 of the second container404 is located adjacent to and proximate to the fill port component 436while the first end 414 of the first container 402 is located distal tothe fill port component 436. The first end 414 of the first container402 can be positioned closer to a tip or end of the needle component 424(e.g., a tip or end of the needle component 424 coupled to the user). Asshown in FIG. 5, the first end 414 of the first container 402 isadjacent to an open end of the second container 404 that enables theenergy transfer spheres 434 to enter the second container 404. The firstend 420 of the second container 404 is adjacent to an open end of thefirst container 402 that enables the energy transfer spheres 4340 toenter the first container 402.

FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom (or underside) view of the internalcomponents 400 of the drug delivery device 100 as shown in FIG. 4. FIGS.5 and 6 together illustrate the compact arrangement of the internalcomponents 400 including exemplary positioning of the first spring 428under the second container 404 and the exemplary positioning of thesecond spring 432 under the first container 402. Further, the energytransfer spheres 430 are shown wrapped around a first end of thearrangement depicted in FIG. 6 and the energy transfer spheres 434 areshown wrapped around a second, opposite end. The arrangement of theinternal components 400 as shown in FIGS. 4-6 enables the overall heightof the internal components 400 to be relatively low while maintaining amanageable length of the drug delivery device 100, thereby providing acomfortable experience by the user when the drug delivery device 100 isworn.

As shown in FIG. 6, a first indicator 602 represents an applied forcefrom the first spring 428 (or a direction of an applied force from thefirst spring 428). The applied force from the first spring 428 istransferred by the energy transfer spheres 430 to the first plunger 410(not shown in FIG. 6) of the first container 402. The expansion of thefirst spring 428 in the direction 602 advances the energy transferspheres 430 toward the first container 402. Similarly, a secondindicator 604 represents an applied force from the second spring 432 (ora direction of an applied force from the second spring 432). The appliedforce from the second spring 432 is transferred by the energy transferspheres 434 to the second plunger 416 (not shown in FIG. 6) of thesecond container 404. The expansion of the second spring 432 advancesthe energy transfer spheres 434 and, consequently, the second plunger416.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front (or head-on) view of the exemplaryarrangement of the various internal components 400 of the drug deliverydevice 100 as well as a block diagram 700 representing the exemplaryarrangement of the various internal components 400. Specifically, FIG. 7illustrates a view of the exemplary arrangement of the various internalcomponents 400 when facing the needle component 424 and the energytransfer spheres 434 relative to the depictions of the internalcomponents 400 in FIGS. 4-6. Further, the block diagram 700 of FIG. 7functionally represents the internal components 400 in a simplifiedmanner to highlight the exemplary arrangement of the internal components400 depicted in FIGS. 4-6.

As shown in FIG. 7, the block diagram 700 represents the drug deliverydevice 100 when it incorporates the internal components 400 as arrangedin FIGS. 4-6. A bottom surface 702, a top surface 704, a first sidesurface 706, and a second side surface 708 represent the housing and/orouter surfaces of the drug delivery device 100. The first and secondsprings 428 and 432 are positioned adjacent to the bottom surface 702.The first and second containers 402 and 404 are positioned adjacent tothe top surface 704. The first spring 428 is positioned under the secondcontainer 404 and the second spring 432 is positioned under the firstcontainer 402.

Indicator 710 represents the application of a force (or direction orpath of a force) from the first spring 428 (e.g., via energy transferspheres 430) to expel a liquid drug (e.g., the liquid drug 406) from thefirst container 402. Indicator 712 represents the application of a force(or direction or path of a force) from the second spring 432 (e.g., viaenergy transfer spheres 434) to expel a liquid drug (e.g., the liquiddrug 408) from the second container 404. As shown, the drive mechanismassociated with the first container 402—which can include the firstspring 428 and the energy transfer spheres 430—crosses the drivemechanism associated with the second container 402—which can include thesecond spring 432 and the energy transfer spheres 434. This arrangementprovides a suitable path for the energy transfer spheres 430 and 434that is not too tight or narrow while still providing a compactarrangement of the internal components 400.

FIG. 7 further illustrates exemplary positioning of windows or openings714 and 716 for viewing the first and second containers 402 and 404,respectively. In particular, the window 714 can be used to view aportion of the first container 402. The window 714 can be arranged tooccupy a portion 718 of the top surface 704 and/or a portion 720 of theside surface 706. The window 716 can be arranged to occupy a portion 722of the top surface 704 and/or a portion 724 of the side surface 708.

For reference, the block diagram 700 includes a first central axis (orplane) 726 and a second central axis (or plane) 728. Relative to thedepiction of the internal components 400 as arranged in FIG. 7, thefirst axis 726 divides the block diagram 700 between a right side and aleft side. The right side can include the first spring 428 and thesecond container 404. The left side can include the second spring 432and the first container 402.

Relative to the depiction of the internal components 400 as arranged inFIG. 7, the second axis 728 divides the block diagram 700 between a topportion and a bottom portion. The top portion can include the first andsecond containers 402 and 404. The bottom portion can include the firstand second springs 428 and 432. As shown, indicator 710 traverses orcrosses the first and second axes 726 and 728—accordingly, the firstspring 428 operates on the first container 402 by applying a forcethrough the energy transfer spheres 430 that traverses both the firstand second axes 726 and 728. Similarly, indicator 712 traverses orcrosses the first and second axes 726 and 728—accordingly, the secondspring 432 operates on the second container 404 by applying a forcethrough the energy transfer spheres 434 that traverses both the firstand second axes 726 and 728.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, the first container 402 can be oriented in anopposite direction relative to an orientation of the second container404. Specifically, the first end 420 of the second container 404 can bepositioned closer to the fill port component 436 while the first end 414of the first container 402 can be positioned further from the fill portcomponent 436. As such, the first plunger 410 can be moved in thedirection 412 to expel the first liquid drug 406 that is approximatelyopposite to the direction 418 that the plunger 416 is moved to expel thesecond liquid drug 408. As shown in FIG. 6, the direction 602 ofexpansion of the first spring 428 can be approximately opposite to thedirection 604 of expansion of the second spring 432. The direction 602can be approximately opposite to the direction 412 of the first plunger410 while the direction 604 can be approximately opposite to thedirection 418 of the second plunger 416.

The drug delivery device 100 can be operated to expel and deliver thefirst liquid drug 406 to the user before subsequently expelling anddelivering the second liquid drug 408 to the user. In variousembodiments, the first liquid drug 406 and the second liquid drug 408can be mixed and delivered to the user in any combination. Any ratio ofmixing the first and second liquid drugs 406 and 408 can be provided.The ratio of mixing can be based on the amount of the first and secondliquid drugs 406 and 408 stored in the first and second containers 402and 404, respectively (e.g., a fill ratio between the first and secondcontainers 402 and 404). In various embodiments, the ratio of mixing canbe based on rates of expelling the first and second liquid drugs 406 and408 from the first and second containers 402 and 404, respectively. Invarious embodiments, the drug delivery device 100 can be used toreconstitute one or more drugs for delivery to the user.

FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a first alternative arrangement ofvarious internal components 800 of the drug delivery device 100 as wellas a block diagram 802 representing the exemplary arrangement of thevarious internal components 800. The block diagram 802 of FIG. 8functionally represents the internal components 800 in a simplifiedmanner to highlight the exemplary arrangement of the internal components800. Various additional components are not shown for simplicity (e.g.,the needle component 424) to better illustrate the exemplary arrangementof storage containers and drive mechanisms.

As shown in FIG. 8, the block diagram 802 represents the drug deliverydevice 100 when it incorporates the internal components 800. The firstspring 428 and the first container 402 are positioned adjacent to thetop surface 704. The second spring 432 and the second container 404 arepositioned adjacent to the bottom surface 702. The second spring 432 ispositioned under the first container 402 and the second container 404 ispositioned under the first spring 428. The first and second containers402 and 404 can be oriented in the same direction (e.g., the first andsecond plungers 410 and 416 can be moved in the same direction to expelthe first and second liquid drugs 406 and 408, respectively). The firstand second springs 428 and 432 can also be oriented in the samedirection (e.g., the first and second springs 428 and 432 can extend inthe same direction to advance forward the first and second sets ofenergy transfer spheres 430 and 434, respectively).

The application of a force from the first spring 428 (e.g., via theenergy transfer spheres 430) to expel a liquid drug (e.g., the liquiddrug 406) from the first container 402 is represented by indicator 710,which is positioned above central axis 728, and traverses or crossescentral axis 726. The application of a force from the second spring 432(e.g., via the energy transfer spheres 434) to expel a liquid drug(e.g., the liquid drug 408) from the second container 404 is representedby indicator 712, which is positioned below central axis 728, andtraverses or crosses central axis 726. As shown, indicators 710 and 712represent applied forces (or directions or paths of applied forces) thatare applied in approximately opposite directions. This arrangementprovides a suitable path for the energy transfer spheres 430 and 434that is not too tight or narrow while still providing a compactarrangement of the internal components 800.

FIG. 8 further illustrates exemplary positioning of windows or openings714 and 804 for viewing the first and second containers 402 and 404,respectively. In particular, the window 714 can be used to view aportion of the first container 402. The window 714 can be arranged tooccupy a portion 718 of the top surface 704 and/or a portion 720 of theside surface 706. The window 804 can be arranged to occupy a portion 806of the bottom surface 702 and/or a portion 808 of the side surface 708.Relative to the first and second central axes 726 and 728, the rightside of the block diagram 902 can include the first spring 428 and thesecond container 404. The left side of the block diagram 902 can includethe second spring 432 and the first container 402.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of a second alternative arrangement ofvarious internal components 900 of the drug delivery device 100 as wellas a block diagram 902 representing the exemplary arrangement of thevarious internal components 900. The block diagram 902 of FIG. 9functionally represents the internal components 900 in a simplifiedmanner to highlight the exemplary arrangement of the internal components900. Further, various components are not shown for simplicity (e.g., theneedle component 424) to better illustrate the exemplary arrangement ofstorage containers and drive mechanisms.

As shown in FIG. 9, the block diagram 902 represents the drug deliverydevice 100 when it incorporates the internal components 900. The firstspring 428 and the first container 402 are positioned adjacent to thetop surface 704. The second spring 432 and the second container 404 arepositioned adjacent to the bottom surface 702. The second spring 432 ispositioned under the first spring 428 and the second container 404 ispositioned under the first container 402. The first and secondcontainers 402 and 404 can be oriented in the same direction. The firstand second springs 428 and 432 can also be oriented in the samedirection.

The application of a force from the first spring 428 (e.g., via theenergy transfer spheres 430) to expel a liquid drug (e.g., the liquiddrug 406) from the first container 402 is represented by indicator 710,which is positioned above central axis 728 and traverses or crossescentral axis 726. The application of a force from the second spring 432(e.g., via the energy transfer spheres 434) to expel a liquid drug(e.g., the liquid drug 408) from the second container 404 is representedby indicator 712, which is positioned below central axis 728 andtraverses or crosses central axis 726. As shown, indicators 710 and 712represent applied forces (or directions or paths of applied forces) thatare applied in the same direction. This arrangement provides a suitablepath for the energy transfer spheres 430 and 434 that is not too tightor narrow while still providing a compact arrangement of the internalcomponents 900.

FIG. 9 further illustrates exemplary positioning of windows or openings904 and 910 for viewing the first and second containers 402 and 404,respectively. In particular, the window 904 can be used to view aportion of the first container 402. The window 904 can be arranged tooccupy a portion 906 of the top surface 704 and/or a portion 908 of theside surface 708. The window 910 can be arranged to occupy a portion 912of the bottom surface 702 and/or a portion 914 of the side surface 708.Relative to the first and second central axes 726 and 728, the rightside of the block diagram 902 can include the first container 402 andthe second container 404. The left side of the block diagram 902 caninclude the first spring 428 and the second spring 432.

Various embodiments described herein—including, for example the variousexemplary arrangements of internal components 400, 800, and 900 depictedin FIGS. 7-9—enable relatively large volumes of one or more drugs (e.g.,10 mL or more) to be delivered to the user. Various embodimentsdescribed herein can store the one or more drugs across two or morecontainers. By using more than one container, a stroke of any spring (orother delivery mechanism) used to expel the liquid drugs from theirrespective containers can be shorter than the stroke of any spring (orother delivery mechanism) used in conventional drug delivery devicesthat are used for high volume drug delivery. As a result, an efficiencyof the drive mechanism used for delivery of the liquid drugs within theembodiments described herein can be improved over conventional devices.Further, as described herein, the arrangement of the internal components400, 800, and 900 enables the drug delivery device 100 to made in acompact form to improve the comfort of a user that wears the drugdelivery device 100. In particular, the arrangement of components asshown in at least FIGS. 7-9 enable the internal components for storingand delivering large volumes of one or more drugs to be arranged in ahighly efficient manner that is compact, allowing the wearable drugdelivery device to remain small and comfortable to wear.

For the sake of convenience and clarity, terms such as “front,” “rear,”“outer,” “inner,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “upwards,”“downwards,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” “longitudinal,”“height,” “above,” “below,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” and“width” (and/or other related terms including those specificallymention, derivatives thereof, and terms of similar import) may have beenused herein to describe the relative placement and orientation of thedevice and/or its various components, each with respect to the geometryand orientation of the device and/or its components as they appear inthe figures, and is not intended to be limiting.

Certain embodiments of the present invention were described above. Itis, however, expressly noted that the present invention is not limitedto those embodiments, but rather the intention is that additions andmodifications to what was expressly described herein are also includedwithin the scope of the invention. Moreover, it is to be understood thatthe features of the various embodiments described herein were notmutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations andpermutations, even if such combinations or permutations were not madeexpress herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. In fact, variations, modifications, and other implementationsof what was described herein will occur to those of ordinary skill inthe art without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention. As such, the invention is not to be defined only by thepreceding illustrative description.

1. A wearable drug delivery device, comprising: a first containerconfigured to store a first liquid drug; a second container configuredto store a second liquid drug; a first spring; a second spring; a firstset of energy transfer spheres coupled to the first spring and a firstplunger positioned within the first container; a second set of energyspheres coupled to the second spring and a second plunger positionedwith the second container; and a needle component coupled to the firstand second containers.
 2. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1,wherein the first spring is configured to expand in a first direction toadvance the first set of energy transfer spheres toward the firstplunger and to advance the first plunger further into the firstcartridge, wherein advancing the first plunger further into the firstcartridge is configured to expel a portion of the first liquid drug fromthe first container for delivery to a user.
 3. The wearable drugdelivery device of claim 2, wherein the second spring is configured toexpand in a second direction to advance the second set of energytransfer spheres toward the second plunger and to advance the secondplunger further into the second cartridge, wherein advancing the secondplunger further into the second cartridge is configured to expel aportion of the second liquid drug from the second container for deliveryto the user.
 4. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 3, whereinthe first and second directions are approximately opposite directions.5. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 4, wherein the firstplunger is configured to be advanced in the second direction when thefirst spring expands in the first direction.
 6. The wearable drugdelivery device of claim 5, wherein the second plunger is configured tobe advanced in the first direction when the second spring expands in thesecond direction.
 7. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 6,wherein the portion of the first liquid drug is expelled from the firstcontainer in the second direction and the portion of the second liquiddrug is expelled from the second container in the first direction. 8.The wearable drug delivery device of claim 3, wherein the wearable drugdelivery device is configured to expel the second liquid drug from thesecond container after the first liquid drug from the first container isexpelled.
 9. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 3, wherein thewearable drug delivery device is configured to expel the first andsecond liquid drugs at substantially the same time.
 10. The wearabledrug delivery device of claim 9, wherein the first and second liquiddrugs are mixed prior to delivery to the user.
 11. The wearable drugdelivery device of claim 1, wherein the first and second liquid drugsare the same liquid drug.
 12. The wearable drug delivery device of claim1, wherein the first and second liquid drugs are different liquid drugs.13. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the firstcontainer and the second container are each 5 mL cartridges.
 14. Thewearable drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first and secondsprings are each compression springs.
 15. The wearable drug deliverydevice of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of energy transferspheres each comprise two or more energy transfer spheres.
 16. Thewearable drug delivery device of claim 15, wherein the first and secondsets of energy transfer spheres each comprise the same number of energytransfer spheres.
 17. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1,wherein the needle component is configured to couple the wearable drugdelivery device to the user upon activation of the wearable drugdelivery device by the user.
 18. The wearable drug delivery device ofclaim 1, wherein the first spring is positioned under the secondcontainer.
 19. The wearable drug delivery device of claim 18, whereinthe second spring is positioned under the first container.
 20. Thewearable drug delivery device of claim 19, further comprising a fillport coupled to the first and second containers, the fill portconfigured to enable a user to fill the first container with the firstliquid drug and to fill the second container with the second liquiddrug.